More Topics

Weather Forecast

Early snow

A North Dakota Highway Patrol trooper approaches a semi-tractor that ended up in the median Wednesday north of Jamestown on U.S. Highway 52/281 as southbound traffic moves on. John M. Steiner / The Sun1 / 3

Somewhere in northeast Jamestown a road and traffic sign were covered with snow as seen Wednesday. John M. Steiner / The Sun2 / 3

HHEADER OVER PIC: Snowy dayCutline: Heavy wet snow falling Wednesday in the region wasn't enough for this University of Jamestown student to wear a winter jacket as he strolled across Allen Field. John M. Steiner / The Sun3 / 3

With more than 6 to 8 inches of snow expected to fall in the region on Wednesday, law enforcement said accidents were relatively light for the first winter storm of the season.

There were cars going in the ditch along Third Street Southeast in the morning but other than that the city had an uneventful day as far as snow-related accidents or problems went, said Lt. Robert Opp, day shift supervisor for the Jamestown Police Department.

"We usually have more accidents on the first snow and that hasn't been the case today," Opp said.

Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser said there were several cars that went into the ditch throughout the day on county roads. The accidents have not resulted in damage or injury, he said.

"So far it has just been people driving probably too fast for the slushy conditions which is typical for a first snow," Kaiser said. "That is what we usually see until people get used to driving in winter conditions again."

A power outage Wednesday in downtown Jamestown lasted about an hour, according to Rebecca Michael, public relations specialist for Otter Tail Power Co.

The power went out in parts of downtown Jamestown at around 11:15 a.m., she said. It is not known how many customers were affected, she said.

The source of the outage is not known but is attributed to the heavy wet snow, Michael said. There were similar outages in other areas where snow was falling, she said.

"There are no major outages that affected large groups all at once," Michael said. "They are mostly small and localized."

Jamestown is in the radius of the storm-related outages, she said. Technicians are working as fast as they can and still be safe to repair the localized outages, she said.

Heavy wet branches can fall on power lines, she said. If people have an outage they should call 800-257-4044 or 218-739-8877 so that Otter Tail Power Co. technicians can respond, she said.

Snowy conditions led Dickey County to close offices at 3:30 p.m. to coincide with the school day, said Charlie Russell, Dickey County emergency manager and 911 coordinator. Roads in Dickey and LaMoure counties were snow covered with whiteout conditions from 35 mph gusts, according to the National Weather Service.

The road surfaces in the Ellendale area were rutted in heavy slush and snow, Russell said.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation and the North Dakota Highway Patrol issued a no travel advisory for portions of eastern North Dakota due to snow and ice covered roads and reduced visibility creating hazardous driving conditions. Cities included in the no travel advisory are Jamestown, Valley City, Edgeley, Ellendale, Oakes, Cooperstown, Michigan, Larimore and surrounding areas.

A No Travel Advisory means conditions are such that motorists should not travel in these areas.